Global Viewpoints

GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Paris concepts From potential production to flight of fancy, the European automakers proudly showed their most inventive designs. by Stuart Birch, European Editor

Porsche unwraps its secret supercar Porsche revealed its best kept secret on (a mix of nickel and silicon) layer on with its integrated spring/damper the first day of the Paris Motor Show: the surface, while also helping to units. The spring/damper units on the the V10-engined Carrera GT. Accord- make the crankcase stronger and more rear axle are actuated by pivot levers ing to the company, only a small step stable. A further advantage is offered and pushrods, allowing an aerody- remains to series production. That by enhanced cooling, the cylinders namic configuration of the engine and could mean the Carrera GT being surrounded transmission unit. might be manufac- Carbon fiber is used extensively in tured in 2003 as a the Carrera GT for both bodywork and body structure. Steel structural elements are used to attain optimum crash behavior. The car has a spaceframe made of high-strength aluminum profiles. The styling includes enormous air scoops behind the trailing edges of the doors and a prominent rear wing. Great attention was paid to underfloor design, which is smooth

high-priced, limited series. Porsche de- Porsche’s concept Carrera GT is a blend of racing and road-going forms scribes its styling as “extravagant,” and is scheduled for with the aim of blending racing and production in 2003. road-going forms. The last time Porsche showed a production-based concept was in 1993 as the forerunner of the Boxster sports car. The mid-engined Carrera GT, though, is a very different vehicle. Porsche says it is based on racing technology; this ap- plies to the chassis, the suspension, and the brakes as well as the new V10, nor- mally aspirated power unit and the six- speed manual gearbox with a motor racing clutch. As in motorsports, the drivetrain and suspension form one unit, with the spring struts of the rear axle pivoting on the gearbox. The 5.5-L engine develops 410 kW directly by coolant. The engine uses with a rear diffuser. Length of the (558 hp) and is said to provide a top titanium connecting rods. Small diam- Carrera GT is 4570 mm (180 in); its speed of 330 km/h (205 mph) with 0- eter clutch plates allow the crankshaft width is 1920 mm (75.6 in), and its 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in to be fitted as low as possible and offer height is 1220 m (48 in). It has a wheel- less than 4 s. Maximum torque is a contribution to reducing the base of 2.7 m (8.6 ft), and its mass is quoted as at least 600 N•m (442 lb•ft). Carrera’s center of gravity. Dry sump about 1250 kg (2755 lb). The forged The engine will rev to more than 8000 lubrication is a further aid to this aim, magnesium rims on the front wheels rpm and uses light alloys. The crank- with a separate oil tank positioned in are 265/30 R 19 and in the rear are 335/ case and the cylinder heads use a spe- the transmission housing. 30 R 20. Its ceramic brake discs are 380 cial high-temperature-resistant light The transmission housing also pro- mm (15 in). Aluminum and leather are alloy. To keep the engine as short and vides the pivot points for the rear the dominant materials used for the compact as possible, the designers double-wishbone axle, with indi- car’s interior. The seats include knee have done without the usual inte- vidual adjustment of the wheel and leg supports that are in place when grated cylinder liners. The cylinders springs and anti-roll bars, such as that the car is being driven but fold away instead feature a low-friction Nikasil on the front double-wishbone axle for entry and egress.

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Steppin’ out with Audi’s Steppenwolf Making its premiere at the Paris Motor Show was the tough- looking Audi Steppenwolf concept. The car is more than a step beyond the Audi allroad and is described as a high- performance all-rounder compact class for on-road and de- manding off-road use. A three-door, four-seater, it has Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive with a Haldex clutch distributing power to front and rear wheels. The Steppenwolf has height-adjustable air suspension, with four levels over a 60-mm (2.4-in) adjustment range. Ground clearance is up to 223 mm (8.8 in). There are two control strategies for the suspension—automatic and

The Steppenwolf’s innovative spare wheel carrier is a drawer under the luggage compartment.

The Audi Steppenwolf concept is a high-performance compact for on- and off-road use. SEAT, also part of the VW Group, displayed its Salsa Emocion concept, a multi-function car with air suspension that is powered by a 2.8-L V6 engine mated with a Tiptronic transmission.

manual. The automatic setting is speed dependent. At speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) and 130 km/h (80 mph), respec- tively, the system lowers the body in two 20-mm (0.8-in) stages, rising again as speed decreases. The highest level must be selected manually but lowers at speeds above 35 km/h (22 mph). An electrohydraulic system operates the park brake. The engine is a 3.2-L V6 developing 165 kW (225 hp). The Steppenwolf is based on the Audi A3/TT platform. Overall length is 4190 mm (165 in). The body is 1830 mm (72 in) wide and 1365 mm (54 in) high. The Steppenwolf has been designed to take a soft top or detachable hardtop. A drawer The interior of the Audi Steppenwolf is a mix of metal beneath the luggage compartment houses the spare wheel. and leather. The car’s interior is a mix of metal and leather.

12 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 Nissan Fusion The styling of Nissan’s popular family cars can be conserva- Nissan has worked to give the concept a sense of integration tive. But making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show was between the front air intake, hood, and windshield. The the European-styled Nissan Fusion concept, a four-door fenders join with the bumpers across a short cut line. mid-size sedan that Nissan says indicates a new approach in The Fusion was styled at Nissan Design Europe’s facility its design capabilities and gives a hint of future styling and includes unusual aspects for a car in this sector, includ- trends. Its designers were told to integrate Western tastes ing television cameras installed at the base of the A-pillars with traditional Japanese roots, “interpreted in a modern and instead of regular rearview mirrors. They provide images even futuristic way.” Nissan describes it as a mono-silhou- to two screens at each end of the instrument binnacle. ette shape, with the traditional emphasis of sedan car design Touch-sensitive door handles are fitted. Nissan worked being almost entirely left behind and replaced with a fluid with Philips to develop fiber-optic lighting technology for and aerodynamic new profile dominated by the cabin. the car. High-power xenon generators beam light through a loom of optic fibers into a bank of 12 visible quartz rods that direct fiber ends onto precision lenses. Each lens is inclined at a different angle to merge into one light beam. Dual function fiber optics are also used for the joint tail/ brake lights. Neon turn indicators are fitted. According to Nissan, the car’s interior mixes high tech with traditional: the floor covering is called “Techno-Tatami” after the wo- ven material typically used in Japanese homes. After sun- down, the mood inside the car can be altered using a colored fiber-optic system also developed by Philips and fitted to the underside of the central roof panel. The system creates a wide range of colors, allowing the occupants to match their Nissan’s Fusion four-door concept uses fiber-optic lighting. environment with their mood. They can therefore design their own atmosphere for their own desired ambience.

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Nissan X-Trail Nissan chose the Paris Motor Show for the world debut of its X- Trail compact 4x4 concept. The 4x4 system uses drive-by-wire technology, an Electronic Stability Program with traction control, and a new 2.0-L gasoline engine. X-Trail’s interior includes new types of textured, durable materials. Formed aluminum is used for detail features, and what is described as a “rugged Nissan revealed its X-Trail concept at the material” lines the load Paris Motor Show. space for easy cleaning. Nissan says the concept car has been designed to demonstrate its ability to create an on-road vehicle with “real off- road ability.”

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BMW Z9 with the lid off BMW’s Z9 concept, already seen as a not require extensive searching. The re- by a multi-function, easy-to-use rotary coupe, was back at Paris—as a cabriolet. sult in the Z9 is the use of some conven- controller placed in the leading edge of A 2+2 seater, its aesthetics may not be to tional basic controls for the lights and the center armrest. It comes easily to everyone’s taste, but it is the car’s interior temperature settings, but many func- hand and works with a centrally tions are controlled mounted dashboard screen. To select the navigation system, the knob is pushed in one direction and then turned to complete specific tasks. Entertainment requires a push in another direction and again a turn to acquire a particular station or to switch from CD to radio. There are eight function areas, all presented on the BMW’s concept Z9 cabrio. dashboard screen; the dash- that is particularly significant; it is board is much more simplified. understood to indicate the design In effect, iDrive is a further ex- of the next-generation 7 Series. ample of how the car cockpit is It includes BMW’s iDrive er- following the glass cockpit of gonomics concept, which is fo- modern aircraft, with minimal cused on simplifying systems use clutter and maximum informa- and the driver interface. Accord- tion for a specific task, when ing to BMW, a driver could use and if needed. Other interesting up to 700 different control func- points in the Z9’s interior in- tions, and that figure is expected clude the use of a stalk transmis- to increase. Controlling every- sion selector (in the opposite po- thing by switches would be im- sition to the indicator stalk) with possible. A driver needs a The Z9 interior indicates the design theme of steering wheel spoke-mounted straightforward system that does the next 7 Series. buttons for manual gearshifts.

Smart Coupe If the regular Smart car’s design is in the vertical plane, the Suprex turbocharged company’s study for a “showcar coupe” is very much in the gasoline engine driving horizontal. Of modular design, the coupe is based on the smart the rear wheels via a six- roadster due for production in 2003. It has glass roof panels, a speed robotized sequen- height of 1175 mm (46 in), and an overall length of only 3223 tial gearbox. According mm (127 in). It has a 460 mm (18 in) longer wheelbase than the to Smart, a particular fo- regular Smart City. Power comes from a three-cylinder, 0.6-L cus has been on its modular design. The powertrain, chassis “cell,” body, and instrument panel have been designed, developed, and manufactured as units. The coupe has a mass of about 750 kg (1650 lb). It has a steel chassis but plastic body parts that are exchange- able to facilitate accident repair or to allow own- ers to alter the color of Smart car’s concept of a their car. Chassis and “showcar coupe” is based on drivetrain are based on the smart roadster due for those of the established production in 2003. City Coupe.

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Citroen Osmose Citroen’s concept offering at the Paris Motor Show was the hybrid Osmose, reflecting the French company’s thoughts on improving the interface between cars and pedestrians. With strange vertical styling and a windshield that looks like a bow window from a house, Osmose can carry three people and luggage in its front area and two behind with entry via a tailgate. Drivers can use the right-hand side panel of the vehicle to inform passers- by that they are willing to take passengers and state the vehicle’s destina- tion. If pedestrians see a stationary Osmose, they can attract the attention of the driver. Osmose is equipped with a camera-operated retrovision system, transmitting information to The pedestrian-friendly Citroen Osmose concept car will remain a concept. the screen in the center of a steering wheel. The screen also provides traffic rear of the vehicle. This lets the driver and easy to handle with a height of information and data concerning the know someone is getting on. Before 1.7 m (5.6 ft). onboard “guests.” Before getting on, getting off, the pedestrian can ex- A Citroen spokesperson explained the pedestrian activates a control change a “virtual” handshake with the at Paris that the company is not plan- function located on the chevrons driver. The Osmose features quiet, har- ning to produce Osmose, a fact that will (Citroen’s company symbol) at the monious styling. The car is compact not come as a great surprise to anyone.

Peugeot 206cc and Prométheé Peugeot has readied its folding, retractable hardtop concept that of the Mercedes SLK. To open, it needs to be unlocked 206 coupe (a la SLK) for production and had it at the Paris and is then lowered by pressure on a button. The four side Motor Show in that form. The 206cc (the letters stand for windows retract simultaneously as the double kinematic “coupe cabriolet” or “coup de coeur”) is a small 2+2. Its roof trunk lid opens towards the rear. Luggage capacity is 175 L (6 is electrohydraulically operated, folding in half laterally like ft3) with the roof stowed, 410 L (14.5 ft3) with it in place. Peugeot also had its latest concept, Prométheé, at Paris. Car companies sometimes use strange language to describe their concept. Although the car may appear to be a caricature thanks to its attractive square shape reinforced by its large wheels, it is nevertheless not totally innocent, according to Peugeot. It represents a vehicle that is at the same time dynamic, clean (its HDi diesel engine is fitted with a particle

The Peugeot 206cc concept coupe features a folding, retractable hardtop that is electrohydraulically operated. The interior of the Peugeot 2066cc concept.

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The interior of the Prométheé concept from Peugeot.

filter), and quiet, with its two drive-wheel mechanical transmission built for the road as well as for tracks suitable for motoring. The windshield arches back above the front seats. The A-pillars are machined from solid metal. The car has three doors (two front and a single sliding rear) plus a tailgate. Next year Renault will begin production of its Avantime concept, and the Peugeot Prométheé looks as if it is heading in a similar styling direction as, arguably, are the concepts from Audi and SEAT described earlier. What is not for production, though, are Peugeot’s City Toyz. The company has launched an international design competition on the Internet, and its styling department created four “toys” seen at the Paris Show to demonstrate what The Prométheé concept car from Peugeot has A-pillars vehicles can be created with total design freedom. machined from solid metal and features two front and a Interesting? Circle 147

single sliding door as well as a tailgate. Not interesting? Circle 148

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Paris production vehicles Automakers joined together in Paris to show off and showcase the projects their engineers have been working on for years. Below is a highlight of their hard work. by Stuart Birch, European Editor

Quick Skoda The Volkswagen Group has a philosophy of cross-linking its technology between its member companies, although they maintain a high degree of design and engineering individualism and au- tonomy to ensure marque identity and characteristics. So Skoda has been able to utilize the 1.8-L turbocharged 132-kW (177-hp) gasoline engine used in—among other models—the quick Audi TT to create a high-performance RS version of its popular Octavia hatchback. VW and SEAT also use the same engine. With a top Skoda’s new high-performance Octavia RS.

22 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 recent years, from 208,000 in 1995 to Skoda became a member of the VW a slated figure of more than 400,000 Group in 1991 and is now wholly by the end of 2000. The company owned by the German company, says that half a million annual sales which may use it to lead in some tech- are likely to be achieved in the “me- nologies and designs before they are dium term.” introduced into the Group as a whole.

The MY 2001 Skoda Octavia Combi station wagon. speed of 232 km/h (144 mph), it is Skoda’s fastest ever production car. The RS rides 15 mm (0.59 in) lower than a standard car and has ventilated disc brakes. To differentiate it from lesser models in the Octavia range, it has a spoiler integrated with the front bumper, tailgate spoiler, and detail trim variations. It has a drag coefficient of 0.29. Interior trim changes include simulated carbon fiber. Other changes by Skoda for the 2001 Octavia model year include a six-speed manual transmission for the 4x4 version. Skoda’s overall production figures (its models include the small Fabia, now available in both hatchback and station wagon forms) have climbed steeply in

Land Rover improvements Land Rover, now part of Ford’s Pre- mier Automotive Group, is for the first time offering a V6 version of the small Freelander SUV. It is linked to a five- speed automatic gearbox that incorporates Steptronic manual shifting. It is also introducing a new turbodiesel model using the BMW Td4 2.0-L common-rail unit (as part of the Rover Group, Land Rover was previously owned by BMW). The Freelander V6 and Td4 are built in three- and five- door forms. Introduced in time for the Paris Mo- tor Show, the all-alloy Freelander 2.5-L V6 develops 130 kW (175 hp) at 6500 rpm and 240 N•m (175 lb•ft) at 4000 rpm. The unit incorporates Siemens fuel-injection and engine-management systems as well as a variable induction system. A profiled cam in the throttle system gives added fine control at low engine speeds. The turbodiesel is a 2.0- L 16-valve unit with direct injection developing 82 kW (110 hp) at 4000 rpm

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Land Rover Freelander five-door with turbodiesel Td4 engine.

The new V6 version of the Land Rover Freelander three-door softback.

The Freelander five-door has been developed to take a V6 engine.

The 2.5-L V6 power unit of the Land Rover Freelander.

and 260 N•m (190 lb•ft) at 1750 rpm— 15% more power and 24% more torque than the previous turbodiesel offered with the Freelander. The combustion system has dual- inlet ports to provide maximum flex- ibility and includes a pilot injection system to aid refinement. The engine also has a variable nozzle turbine— altering the pitch of the inlet vanes for added efficiency across the rev range. Throttle control is drive-by-wire. MY 2001 Freelanders get improved braking and minor styling changes.

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BMW maximizes the MINI BMW has at last taken the wraps off the MINI (as opposed to old Mini) goes on When BMW divested itself of the production version of its replacement sale. A concept version of the car was Rover Group, it decided to keep the for the over forty-year-old Mini. The seen as long ago as 1997 at the Frank- MINI project. Work had started in 1995 company did so initially at a strictly furt Motor Show. In fact, the whole on the design and development pro- limited “reveal” in London, New York, program, from concept to production, gram for a Mini replacement to be built Tokyo, and other major cities to the will have taken close to six years, dem- at BMW’s Oxford plant in the UK. It is representatives of a few major media onstrating BMW’s understanding of 41 years since the British Mini first ap- organizations—including AEI—and the need to balance new technology peared. That car not only changed de- subsequently at the Paris Motor Show. with traditional styling and achieve sign philosophies of small-car packag- It will be mid-2001 before the new necessary quality levels. ing (transverse engine, front-wheel

Although larger, the new MINI’s side elevation echoes that of the 1959 original.

The new MINI is a hatchback. The new MINI’s hood and fenders open as one unit to access the engine compartment.

drive) but also introduced a new word into common English usage. Replacing any car that has become established as a design icon is always a major chal- lenge to designers and engineers. BMW decided the criteria for its program would include retention of the essence of the original Mini styling in a larger, more “muscular” car that could be sold in worldwide markets, including the U.S. The result is a four-seat hatchback of distinctive shape that does indeed have very strong traditional-Mini styling cues. In essence it is an extrapolated Mini in terms of size, styling, and modern technology. The new MINI retains, in modified form, many of the visual cues of the As deadlines neared, full details of original. the new MINI had not been revealed.

28 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 The MINI’s interior resembles the early Mini, including toggle switches and a centrally positioned speedometer. The new MINI has a wide range of seat and steering column adjustments.

But it has a 1.6-L engine with a choice of power outputs and uses BMW’s multi-link suspension system at the rear. Disc brakes with ABS are fitted to all wheels of the higher performance MINI Cooper. The car also has Dy- namic Stability Control. Transmission options include a five-speed manual and BMW’s Steptronic automatic; a continuously variable transmission is offered as an option. The MINI has a traditional Mini wheel-at-each-corner configuration. The hood and fenders (incorporating the headlamps) can be raised as one unit to gain access to the engine compartment. According to MINI Chief

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Designer Frank Stephenson, this was The car’s avant-garde interior has cessories to tailor driving positions. the most difficult part of the car to some echoes—within necessary The new MINI’s doors are wide to achieve in terms of tooling and reach- safety constraints—of the early Mini, facilitate rear-seat entry and egress. ing necessary quality standards. A-, including toggle switches, although The folding rear seats are divided B-, and C-pillars are carefully “cam- these are caged to meet legislative 50:50. BMW says body stiffness is ouflaged” by tinted glass, and the requirements. The speedometer is “exceptional.” It is possible that the door windows are frameless. centrally positioned—just as it was in new MINI will be developed in other Stephenson said getting the car’s the first Mini. Unlike that car with its body styles—the original range in- waistline right was also challenging uncompromising driving position, cluded a pickup. Length of the new in terms of styling balance. The com- the new MINI can accommodate tall car is 3.6 m (11.8 ft). BMW is planning plex headlamps were also difficult to drivers with ease and has a wide to build 100,000 a year to be sold achieve technically and aesthetically. range of seat and steering column ad- worldwide, including the U.S. where BMW will offer a large, “panoramic” justments; for many years, buyers of the company says clinics resulted in glass sunroof. early Minis bought after-market ac- very favorable comments.

C is for Coupe As expected, Mercedes-Benz is already broadening its new re-worked” compared to the C-class sedan. The roof line C-class sedan range. The first addition—unveiled at the sweeps down sharply behind the B-pillar. There is a large Paris Motor Show—is the C-class Sports Coupe with an spoiler, which spans the lower half of the tailgate glass and optional, novel glass panoramic sliding glass sunroof. links the top of the rear light clusters. Rear vision is said to be DaimlerChrysler describes the Coupe as ”completely very good, particularly for a coupe style. The panoramic

The new C-Class features a large glass sunroof as an option.

The new Mercedes-Benz C-class Coupe. Interior of the Mercedes-Benz C-class Coupe.

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glass roof stretches from the header rail of the windshield to options include two supercharged units: the 2.3-L 145-kW the rear spoiler and is entirely glass. To open, the front section (197-hp) unit and new 2.0-L 120-kW (163-hp) unit, both slides aft, above the fixed rear section. It is some 33% larger used in the SLK. A non-turbo four-cylinder unit produces than a conventional sunroof. Two powered roller blinds act 95 kW (129 hp) and a 2.2-L turbodiesel with common-rail as sunshields when the roof is closed. direct injection technology produces 105 kW (143 hp). The The Coupe rides 10 mm (0.4 in) lower than the sedan and transmission option is a six-speed automated gearbox is 20 mm (0.8 in) lower overall, while length is reduced by called Sequentronic. It can be used as a full auto or sequen- 183 mm (7.2 in). Sports seats are fitted at the front; the rear tial manual. The Coupe has Electronic Stability Program seats are asymmetrically divided and fold. The four engine technology, and airbags include a window bag.

Smoother Corsa GM Europe (GME) Opel/Vauxhall has manual and about 25 kg (55 lb) lighter— “considerably faster” than hydraulic made major changes to its small Corsa and half the cost—than a conventional systems, enabling the gears to be shifted that add up to a new, more refined automatic transmission. Partners in de- in 300 ms on average. Easytronic model. Making its debut at the Paris veloping the system were LuK and declutches automatically during brak- Motor Show, it is visually similar to the Bosch. GME claims it is the first trans- ing and has a “creep” capability. Unlike established Corsa but is roomier, wider, mission of its kind in which the clutch sequential transmissions, gears can be and, at 2490 mm (98 in), has the longest is actuated and the gears shifted by skipped by moving the shift lever sev- wheelbase in its class. Its servicing and three electric motors that operate eral times in succession. The transmis- oil change intervals are at 32,000 km sion has taken about three years to de- (20,000 mi). It has a fully galva- velop. Corsas fitted with it are fraction- nized body—and, most inter- ally more economical than manual gear- esting, a new auto-plus- box equivalents. Because it is less costly manual five-speed, robot- than a conventional auto transmis- ized Easytronic gearbox, sion, it can be fitted to low-cost although a conventional models with engines of only 1.2 L. automatic system is avail- Other significant elements able for the 1.4-L Corsa. of the new Corsa include a 33% According to GME, the improved body stiffness and a Easytronic is only about 4 Cd of 0.32, a good figure for kg (8.8 lb) heavier than a such a small car. It is built in three- and five-door forms. Engine The new Opel/Vauxhall options include 1.2-, 1.4-, and 1.8-L Corsa looks similar to the gasoline units as well as direct-injec- previous model but has tion, naturally aspirated, and turbo- received major changes. charged diesel engines. A smart airbag for the front-seat passenger is an option. A sensor mat in the seat cushion detects whether the seat is occupied. If not, the airbag on the front passenger’s side is deactivated (as is the corre- sponding side airbag, if fitted). A sec- ond sensor detects a child seat with integrated transponders on the front passenger seat. One transmitter and two receivers are installed in the front passenger seat; the transmitter activates the two transponders integrated into the child’s seat. This registers the presence of a child seat and automatically deactivates the front and side airbags on the passenger side. A light informs the driver that the passenger airbags are deactivated, ruling out the risk of the airbag inflating during an The Easytronic impact and injuring the child. The The Eastytronic selector. transmission. Corsa also has active head restraints.

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New VWs VW’s Passat has been freshened for MY 2001. Making its debut at the Paris Motor Show, the new Passat has a revised appearance, although it retains the un- cluttered, practical looks of its predeces- sor. Its engine choice includes a 127-kW (170-hp) V5 engine.

The MY 2001 VW Passat. VW’s high-performance Lupo GTI.

VW also announced a GTI version of its little Lupo with a 92-kW (125-hp) 1.6-L four-cylinder engine that gives it a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 8.3 s. Aluminum is used for the hood, doors, and wheel arches to get the car’s mass down to 978 kg (2152 lb). The engine complies with Euro 4 emissions standards. Variable timing is used on the inlet camshaft for a flatter torque curve. It has 152 N•m (112 lb•ft) at 3000 rpm. Disc brakes are used for all wheels and are ventilated at the front. The Lupo GTI has ABS with electronic brake force distribution.

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Volvo S60

Volvo S60 dashboard.

Volvo showed its new S60 “compact executive sports sedan” at the Paris Motor Show. Styling incorporates some of the cues of the C70 coupe but with the pronounced “shoulders” of the latest S80 and V70. The car has a short rear overhang and a distinctive rear windshield and trunk lid treatment, which gives a concave effect. The S60 is being offered with a range of five-cylinder turbocharged engines of various power outputs, from a 2.0-L producing 134 kW (180 hp) to a 2.3-L with 186 kW (250 hp) and 330 N•m (243 lb•ft). Suspension is MacPherson struts with lower wish- Volvo’s distinctively styled new S60. bones at the front and independent multi-link at the rear.

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The new Ford Mondeo According to Ford, its design and engineering is not what it used to be: it is now vastly better. The company’s ability to create cars—particularly for the European market—that take it into new sectors in terms of ride, handling, and distinctive styling has been dem- onstrated by successive models, from the Mondeo in 1993 through the Ka, Cougar, and Focus of the late 1990s. With that overall philosophy firmly established, the original Mondeo is giving way to an almost wholly new replacement, using the same name, based on a larger platform, and with styling cues that echo the distinctive “New Edge” styling that has become a The new Ford Mondeo makes further use of the company’s “New Edge” clear element of Ford’s identity. For- styling philosophy. mally unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the new Mondeo emphasizes safety, interior space, and a sharper profile that together take it up-market in terms of image and assets. The Mondeo is in a very tough market sector, with the Opel Vectra, Volkswagen Passat, and new Renault Laguna (also unveiled at Paris) among its main rivals. Engine choice includes newly developed Duratec HE four-cylinder 1.8-L and 2.0-L gasoline units and the 2.5-L Duratec V6. A Duratorq direct-injection diesel unit is also offered. The car’s exterior is the result A Ford MTX-75 manual five-speed of design work in Germany and the UK, transmission with cable shift is stan- and has a sharper look compared to the dard. Compared to the former original, rounded Mondeo. Mondeo, the new car has a 50 mm (2 in) longer wheelbase, plus wider tracks. The bodyshell is said to be some 60% stiffer in torsion than that of the old car. Disc brakes are fitted to all wheels. Ser- vice intervals for cars with the Duratec HE engine are fixed at 20,000 km (12,500 mi). The new Mondeo is the first Ford vehicle to be created digi- tally, states the company, shortening the development process by 13 months to just 24 months. Built at Ford’s Genk, Belgium, plant, the company describes the new car as its “European flagship.” Safety systems include adaptive dual-stage airbags for the front-seat occupants with a detection system that analyzes frontal crash severity, driver position, and passenger seat occupancy. Sys- tems have been optimized to support a wide range of human body profiles— Interior design and packaging were key criteria for the new Ford Mondeo.

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Virtually every component of the Mondeo’s suspension system has been reworked with MacPherson struts in the front and a Quadrilink system in the rear. from 5th percentile females to 95th percentile males. The accents. The dashboard design is also entirely new with a Mondeo gets, as standard, inflatable side curtains for front- soft-feel top, large instrument binnacle, and fully inte- and rear-seat occupants and thorax protecting side airbags grated center console. for front-seat occupants. To help protect the driver’s feet, a Ford says that “virtually every component” of the suspen- collapsible pedal structure is used. Three-point seatbelts are sion system has been reworked within the framework of fitted to all positions. The car makes use of high-strength Mondeo’s proven architecture. The system features indepen- steels and laser welding. The Mondeo has electronic brake dent MacPherson struts at the front with angled coil spring/ force distribution and is available with emergency brake damper units and lower L-arms in optimized front rubber, assist, an electronic stability program, and antilock brakes. rear fluid-filled bushings. It has lower control arms, an anti- Packaging is a major element of the new Mondeo’s roll bar, and the steering rack mounted on a separate, isolated design. As well as the stretched wheelbase, the car is 150 pressed-steel subframe. At the rear, the car has a Quadrilink mm (6 in) longer overall. The H-point has been raised by 15 suspension with strut-type coil spring/damper units and two mm (0.6 in), and the car has larger door openings. Ford transverse and one trailing arm on each side, incorporating used its “Third Age” suit to help designers simulate the passive rear-wheel steering. There is also an anti-roll bar in the body movements of older people. Interior trim is all new, rear. A 24-stage paint and body protection system is used, indicating a fresh design direction, with metal-finished including zinc galvanizing of all body panels except the roof.

Fiat Doblo Mixing space with agility is an increas- ft) length and 1.7 m (5.6 ft) width. Ac- ingly important design aim for vehicle cording to Fiat, it is can seat five people manufacturers. For the Paris Motor in comfort while offering 750-L (26.5- Show, Fiat came up with the Doblo ft3) luggage space to parcel shelf level. with overall dimensions of 4.2 m (13.7 Folding down the back seat boosts this to 3000 L (106 ft3) of load space. The Doblo’s strong design points include accessibility (it has sliding rear doors), a large glazed area, and an interior designed for maximum “user friendli- ness.” The car has up to six airbags. Fiat will build the Doblo and Doblo Cargo in 26 body configurations (three, four, and five doors). Engine options will initially include 1.2-L Fiat’s new “user-friendly” gasoline and 1.9-L diesel units, with Doblo can seat up to five 1.6-L gasoline and 1.9 turbodiesel people. units coming later.

40 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Renault Laguna II Renault’s stylish new Laguna II was inspired by the company’s Initiale concept car shown in 1995. The new car, which took 41 months to design and develop according to Renault, is actually two five-door models with different philosophies and different customer profiles; one is a hatchback, the other a “Sport Tourer,” which means an elegant type of station wagon or “shooting brake,” to use the company’s parlance. The two versions are slightly longer at 4.6 m (15.0 ft) and 4.7 m (15.4 ft) than the previous Laguna, and Renault, like Ford with the new Mondeo, is taking its new model up- market. The Sport Tourer will be available with a 157-kW (210-hp) 3.0-L V6 24-valve engine with a five-speed sequential shift transmission. The influence of the Initiale is particularly clear in the rear section of the hatchback and in the side and rear window lines of the Sport Tourer. The dashboard design of Renault Laguna II.

The Renault Laguna II hatchback features complex- surface xenon headlamps.

There is a clear link between the new Renault Laguna and Renault’s Initiale concept car of the mid-1990s.

airbags in the sides of the front seats and in the trim of the C- pillars for rear-seat passengers. Curtain head-protection airbags are housed in the roof side rails, serving both front Renault Laguna II Sport Tourer will be available with a and rear occupants. 3.0-L V6 24-valve engine. The Laguna has a keyless locking system. A card about the size of a credit card incorporates a push button to operate the The Laguna II’s standard and optional equipment list central locking. Once inside the car, the driver inserts the card includes an antilock brake system and is complemented by into a reader and pushes a start/stop button. Another system an electronic rear brake proportioning valve, emergency for some markets is a “hands-free” design; the car constantly brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic sta- scans for the card, and the doors unlock automatically when bility program, and traction control system. Lighting systems it is recognized and a door handle is pulled. include complex-surface xenon headlamps allied to dynamic Renault has redesigned the previous Laguna chassis for beam height correction to increase range and give close to the new car, which has revised four-cylinder and V6 gasoline 30% better light distribution. Both interior and exterior mir- engines plus a common-rail turbodiesel. A new six-speed rors are photochromic. The car’s crashworthiness is en- manual and five-speed automatic transmission with sequen- hanced by the use of “ultra-high limit elastic steels, with 2.5 tial shift gearboxes are introduced. A drive-by-wire accelera- times the stiffness of conventional steels.” The car also gets tor linkage drives a motorized throttle valve. Next year the new adaptive airbags and an adaptive safety belt with load Laguna will be offered with a direct-injection gasoline engine limiter and two pretensioners for the driver, plus lateral currently fitted to the Megane coupe.

44 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Show debut for Honda Civic Honda’s new Civic made its Motor Show debut at Paris. The seventh-generation Civic is an all-new design that is being built in Japan, the UK, and Turkey. Honda has concentrated on giving it enhanced packaging. Slightly shorter in overall length but with a longer wheelbase, taller, and having the same width as the previous Civic, the new car has more usable interior space, the result of being designed “from the inside out,” according to the company. The 1010-mm (40- in) tandem distance (between the hip points of front and rear passengers) is 100 mm (4 in) longer than that of the previous Civic. The car’s design ap- proaches a one-box concept with a short nose, which brought crash safety challenges. Honda solved these by splitting impact energy along par- allel paths among the high stiffness front side members and the subframe beneath. Body stiffness also improved over the previous Civic. A significant design element of the new car is the use of a dashboard- mounted gearshift. Honda designers considered carefully the position of the gearshift to ensure that it feels natural during everyday driving. Positioned close to the steering wheel, the shift clears floor space to allow front-to-rear and left-to-right access. Honda used “new and advanced” manufacturing techniques to achieve very narrow panel gaps for the new Civic. Engines are new 1.4-L and 1.6-L The all-new, seventh-generation 2001 Honda Civic. gasoline units, the more powerful VTEC II having 81 kW (109 hp). Front received design and development in- coupe, cabriolet, and pickup truck. and rear suspension designs are new. put from Honda’s R&D centers in the And its FCX fuel-cell concept car was The front incorporates toe-control link UK and Germany. also on its stand. The FCX extracts MacPherson struts. At the rear is a reac- Honda also had its multi-purpose hydrogen from methanol. The fuel tive-link double wishbone system for Sprocket concept car at Paris. Created cell is positioned beneath the floor, rear-wheel toe-in under braking. Elec- at its Californian design studio, it is a allowing for a very short nose and tric power steering is fitted. The car has combined two-plus-two sports good interior space.

Citroen C5 Citroen took the wraps off its new cab-forward styled C5 The car is 4.6 m (15.2 ft) long but 1.5 m (4.9 ft) high to give the sedan at the Paris Motor Show. A replacement for the suc- added interior space and ease of entry and exit that cessful Xantia, the C5 incorporates third-generation Citroen’s designers regard as necessary to meet changing Hydractive suspension. The work of Citroen’s own Styling market expectations. Center, the C5 is longer, taller, and better equipped than the Hydractive suspension was used on a production Citroen Xantia. It demonstrates the trend, shown by Ford with its for the first time 11 years ago when it was fitted to the large XM, new Mondeo and by Renault with the latest Laguna, towards the production of which has just ceased. It was claimed as the moving European medium-size sedans slightly up-market. world’s first production vehicle to use an intelligent hydraulic

46 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Citroen’s new cab-forward C5 has design emphasis on interior space.

suspension system, able to adapt to driving demands via variable springing and damping, with information supplied to a central control unit via five sensors. Four years later Hydractive II appeared on the Xantia with triple the computing power. The third-generation has a simplified hydraulic architecture, according to Citroen. It has a built-in hydroelectronic unit, four carrier elements with suspension spheres developed using new technology for enhanced durability, front and rear stiffness regulators, electric height sensors Electronic Hydraulic linked to anti-roll bars, a fluid reservoir, and a simplified hydraulic network 1 Integrated hydrotronic unit 7 Rear electronic position sensor 2 Front suspension struts 8 Built-in systems interface with “new generation connections.” As 3 Front stiffness regulator 9 Steering wheel sensor well as switching rapidly from sport to 4 Front electric position sensor 10 Hydraulic fluid reservoir comfort mode, the height of the vehicle 5 Rear hydropneumatic cylinders 11 Accelerator and brake pedals 6 Rear stiffness regulator varies automatically according to its speed, lowering the center of gravity by Citroen C5 Hydractive suspension system. 15 mm (0.6 in) at the front and 11 mm (0.4 in) at the rear. Over poor surfaces, the suspension can with a choice of diesel and gasoline engines including a 2.2- rise by 13 mm (0.5 in). The suspension system requires no L 101-kW (136-hp) direct-injection turbodiesel equipped maintenance for the first five years or 200,000 km (125,000 with a particle filter system, and a 3.0-L V6 producing 157 mi) of the vehicle’s life. kW (210 hp). Transmission choice includes manual or a The C5 also uses multiplex electronics, paving the way sequential “auto-active” gearbox. The particle filter system, for innovative functions offering increased comfort and previously described in AEI, traps particles and periodi- safety, such as a black panel function, automatic windshield cally burns them off. The system includes the use of Eolys, wipers, multifunctional onboard computer, automatic a cerine-based additive that reduces particle combustion lights and hazard warning lights, detection of low tire pres- temperature to 450°C (840°F). The program to develop the sure, and satellite navigation. The car has been launched C5 was completed in three years.

48 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Skoda Fabia Combi From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, Skoda was an unimpressive motor manufacturer in Europe in terms of design and engineering with its potential largely unfulfilled. But since becoming part of the Volkswagen Group, it has gained great credibility in both disciplines. Built in the Czech Republic, the mid-size Skoda Octavia is highly successful as is the small Fabia hatchback. At the Paris Show, the Fabia Combi (station wagon) was formally revealed. Skoda has given it “coupe” styling Skoda’s new Fabia Combi has been redesigned from the C-pillar rearward. with a sloping tailgate rather than a purely functional angular shape. Com- Folding the divided rear seats takes this nozzle system, producing 74 kW (101 pared to the hatch, the Combi has been to 1225 L (43.24 ft3). The car is available hp) and providing the car with a redesigned from the C-pillar rearward. with a choice of four gasoline and two claimed maximum speed of 187 km/h It is 260 mm (10 in) longer than the hatch diesel engines. The most powerful en- (116 mph) and a good average fuel con- and has 426 L (15 ft3) of luggage space. gine uses direct injection and a pump sumption of 4.8 L/100 km.

Volvo’s new diesel Volvo’s new aluminum Volvo revealed its new in-house manufactured diesel will be used in a aluminum, modular diesel engine at Paris. It will five-cylinder 2.4-L be used in five-cylinder 2.4-L form in three mod- form in three models els next year. The engine, built at Volvo’s Skövde next year. factory, replaces the five-cylinder VW unit previously used by the company. It produces 120 kW (163 hp) and 340 N•m 250 (lb•ft) at 1750 rpm. Total mass is 185 kg (408 lb). The engine has four valves per cylinder and two overhead camshafts. Its modularity gives it potential applications for use in other products of Ford’s Premier Automo- tive Group, of which Volvo is a member. Jaguar is certainly in need of a powerful, smooth, and quiet diesel for its S-type and for next year’s smaller X400 sedan.

Anniversary Ferrari To mark Pininfarina’s 70th anniversary, Ferrari invited the company to present a design for a front-engined 12-cylinder roadster that would “capture the spirit” of famous past road races. The result, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, is the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina. The first Ferrari Barchetta was the 166 Mille Miglia of 1948, designed for use on road and track. The new car is being built as a limited edition for sale next Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is a limited-edition homage to year. It has a 5.5-L engine, producing Pininfarina’s 70th anniversary. 358 kW (485 hp). Its mass is 1690 kg (3725 lb). Top speed is claimed to be 300 km/h (186 mph) with 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.4 s.

50 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS

Bugatti Veyron and W12 for Audi A8 Audi presented the A8 L quattro with a W12 6.0-L engine at the Paris Motor Show. Power output is 309 kW (420 hp) with maximum torque of 550 N•m (406 lb•ft). Audi claims the new A8 can reach its electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) in 38 s. The engine drives through a five-speed Tiptronic gearbox and is 513 mm (20 in) long with a width of 690 mm (27 in), which means there is sufficient space to give the big A8 four-wheel drive. Total mass of the aluminum A8 is 1980 kg (4365 lb). Audi (which first showed a W12 engine in its Avus sports car in The Bugatti 16.4 Veyron 1991), working with parent company produces 463 kW (620 hp). VW, combined two V6 units to create

the W12. Each of the two-cylinder rows contain six cylinders at an angle of 15°. The units are joined at an angle of 72°. The new Audi A8 is claimed to be capable of reaching 250 km/h (155 mph) The engine is described by the com- in 38 s. pany as having “high rigidity.” The crankshaft runs in seven bear- The Audi A8’s W12 engine drives through ings and the crankpins are offset to a Tiptronic gearbox. achieve a constant firing order, as on a V6. The engine has dry sump lubrication with an oil tank positioned behind the right headlamp and connected to the engine by two hoses. The oil pump is chain-driven directly from the crankshaft. There are double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank. The new Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron also uses a W engine but with 16 cylinders. Bugatti is also part of the VW Group. Shown at Paris, the Veyron produces 463 kW (620 hp).

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52 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000